Adding a deck can extend the living area to the outdoors!

Long Island is a wonderful place to be in the summer! Adding a deck is one way to create an outdoor living area. A deck is a desirable feature for a home and can return 86.7 percent on the original investment. There are several deck building materials to choose from: wood, composite, fiberglass-reinforced plastic and plastic.

Wood is a top choice for most and is quite affordable, but it is high maintenance. Pressure-treated lumber made without arsenic is safe and provides resistance to decay and termites. The process of pressure-treating wood involves exposing the wood to chemicals under high pressure, which then protect the wood from decay and termites. There are different grades of pressure-treated wood, which indicate its intended use. Use the highest chemical-retention level for any permanent wood foundations or ground contact lumber. The lowest chemical-retention level is intended for the actual decking. Redwood and cedar are naturally resistant to decay and termites as are some tropical hardwoods (teak and mahogany). A good deal of annual maintenance is necessary to maintain the appearance of your wood decking, After initially applying a water-repellant treatment and then painting or staining the wood, you’ll need to pressure-wash the wood to remove mildew/mold buildup and then reapply the paint/stain annually.

Composites are gaining popularity despite its higher cost due to its low-maintenance. Also, composites won’t warp, rot or splinter and they have a slip-resistant surface. They are also environmentally friendly since they are made from recycled materials, plastic bags, sawdust and wood chips to name a few. Composites are made of a blend of plastic resins and wood fiber, giving it a smooth finish with a wood-grain appearance. Since the composite decking is weaker than wood, to avoid sagging or dropping it will need to be held up by treated wood joist and beams. There are more than 50 brands of composites to choose from and they are available in a variety of colors and textures. Composite decks can weather by 10 percent within the first three months since they do contain wood material. The colors tend to fade to a natural gray over time similar to wood decks. So, if you want to get an idea of appearance of composite deck, then look at one that has been exposed to the sun for at least a year. For maintenance, you’ll want to wash the deck 2-3 times per year to prevent mildew buildup.

Fiberglass-reinforced plastic is low maintenance, just an annual cleaning is recommended. It is a strong material and is unaffected by severe weather, sunlight or heat. A downside is that fiberglass-reinforced plastic can be difficult to cut, so it will need to be pre-ordered to size.

Plastic is low maintenance, has a skid-resistant surface, is simple to install and can be a good choice if you are on a tight budget. It is similar to composite, but there is no attempt to make it look like real wood. There are also many brands of plastic decking to choose from. PVC vinyl decking usually has a lifetime guarantee and just needs to be washed occasionally. The drawback to PVC vinyl decking is that it does expand/contract with freeze/thaw cycles.

As with any construction project, check with your local building codes prior to any ordering materials. You’ll want to make sure that they don’t have any restrictions.